Method of manufacturing cartridge casings



Sept. 10, G. A. LYON METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CARTRIDGE CASINGS FiledDec. 8, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P.4C5LZ 2 .4 quj F4 4 JEVJ/ETFZZCJT GeorgeAZberz L902? Sept. 10, 1957 G. A. LYON 2,805,456

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CARTRIDGE CASINGS Filed Dec. 8, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Pi E7- 9 29 45 55 r 50 LL .40

' BYE-172L127? George Aiberz Lyon Sept. 10, 1957 G. A. LYON METHOD OFMANUFACTURING CARTRIDGE CASINGS Filed Dec. 8. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Sept. 10, 1957 G. A. LYON METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CARTRIDGE CASINGS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

I! rift 2 .1. qmii George Albert Lgqn "nite Patented Sept. 10, 1&5?

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CARTRIDGE CASINGS George Albert Lyon, Detroit,Mich.

Application December 8, 1951, Serial No. 260,673

4 Claims. (Cl. 29-13) This invention relates to improvements in metallicordnance shell casings and more particularly concerns improved methodsand means for making such casings, and the casings resulting therefrom.

In the manufacture of metallic cartridge shell casings requiring flangestructures not only at the base but also at the mouth of the casings,various manufacturing expedients have heretofore been employed,including forging, machining, grinding, attaching collars to thecasings, and the like. As a result, such casings have been slow toproduce and quite expensive.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an economicaland greatly simplified method of making metallic cartridge shellcasings, and more especially such casings having flange structure at themouth or open end of the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of makingordnance shell casings, by coining and drawing operations, even wherethese casings include flange structure at the mouth end of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus formaking shell casings.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel ordnance shellcasing structures.

According to the general features of the invention there is provided, ina new method of making ordnance shell casings, successively drawing ametal blank into tubular form, closed at one end and open at the otherend, and at each draw stopping short a predetermined distance from theopen end of the casing to provide a collar of material of substantialthickness.

According to other features of the invention, the method also includesthe further step of straightening and inwardly shaping the collar at theopen end of the casing.

It is another feature of the invention to provide a novel punch and diemechanism for drawing shell casings closed at one end and having acollar at the opposite or open end.

According to a further feature of the invention, a shell casing isprovided in one integral drawn piece, comprising a tubular body closedat one end and having the opposite end open, and with the open endprovided with a collar in one piece integral with the body.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an edge elevational view of a metal blank suitable fordrawing a shell casing;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a casing cup following thefirst draw of the blank of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing two consecutivefurther draws of the casing;

Figures 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views similar to Figure 4 butshowing, respectively, the collar at the open end of the casing inwardlyswaged and the casing after it has been machined;

Figure 7 is a more or less schematic view of die mechanism 'used in thedrawing of the casing;

Figure 8 is a transverse or diametrical sectional view through 'afurther metal blank, following an initial coining thereof to initiatethe making of a second casing structure;

Figures 9 and 10 are diametrical vertical sectional views showingsuccessive stages in the drawing of the casing from the coined blank ofFigure 8;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casing of Figure 10,showing successive machining operations thereon;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembly of thecasing of Figure 11 with a third casing;

Figure 13 is a transverse cross sectional view through a preliminarilycoined blank to initiate the third casing;

Figures 14 and 15 are vertical sectional views showing successivedrawings of the blank of Figure 13 into the casing form;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of thecasing shown in Figure 15 following certain machining operations on thecollar thereof;

Figure 17 is a bottom plan view of the casing of Figure 15 followingcertain machining operations performed thereon; and

Figure 18 is a vertical sectional view of a modification of thestructure shown in Figure 12.

As shown on the drawings:

The method of the present invention will be best understood inconnection with a description of the several views shown in thedrawings.

In drawing a metal shell casing according to the present invention, ametal blank 25 may be initially coined or used directly as a cut blank,depending on the final shape of head desired. Freferably, the blank 25is circular. If desired, it may be initially formed with a centralconcave, convex depression or embossrnent 27 which will serve ascentering means when placing the blank into a drawing die. 7

The blank of Figure 1 is subjected to successive draws to progressivelyshape it into an elongated closed end tube or case as represented inFigures 2, 3 and 4, showing successive states of elongation of thecasing.

Figure 2 depicts the first draw or cupping of the case, generallyidentified at 28. In this operation, the marginal portion of the blank25 is turned axially and provides a tubular side wall 29. One end of thecase is closed by a wall 30 providing a base or head, the case beingopen at the opposite end. The base wall 36 remains of substantially thesame thickness as at the conclusion of the initial coining, while themarginal portion of the original blank is worked substantially thinnerto afford the necessary elongation in the side wall 29. In the presentinstance, the base wall 30 is preferably concave-convex.

According to the present invention, the drawing of the case 28 isstopped short of the open end of the casing. As a result, a head orcollar 31 of the material of the side wall remains at the mouth of thecup following the first draw as shown in Figure 2. This collar 31 isretained in each of the succeeding draws, which may be two additionaldraws, as shown respectively in Figures 3 and 4, by which the cup ofFigure 2 is substantially elongated to the ultimate length of easingdesired, as shown in Figure 4.

It will be observed that throughout the drawing, the side wall 29becomes successively thinner while the bottom wall 30 remains ofsubstantially the same thickness and the mouth end collar 31 remains ofsubstantially the same thickness or mass of material To accommodate thedrawing die mechanism the collar 31. flares radially outwardly.

a 38 provides a substantial annular gap proceeds.

In Figure '7 is shown a drawing die assembly 32 especially adapted forthe present purpose. This assembly comprises a preferably stationary diebase member 33 having ;a clearance aperture 34-therethroughproviding apassageway .therethrough. :At the upperend' of the aperture -orpassageway 34 is mounted aa-drawing die member 35 which maybe ofring-shaped and may "be made from any suitahle hard material .-suchascarboloy.

The die member 35 is seated within a rabbet groove or portion thedie'hole 38 is:flared asindicated at 39, preferably frustoconica1ly,lto,a substantial extent to provide a clearance reception of the collar 31of the casing as it is I being drawn; 'Itwill be observed that the diehole 38 is of slightly smaller :diameter hole 34.

Operative through the drawing die hole 38 is a drawing plunger or punch40 having, in this instance, a curvate than the clearance passage 7 tip41. The punch 40 is operatively supported by a ram 42 for reciprocalstroke movements relative to the die 35.

.In the drawing die mechanism 32, one of the blanks is centered upon thedrawing die 35 with the embossment 27, if so equipped, registering withthe drawing aperture 38. Then the drawing punch 40 is driven by the ram42 into the blank to drive the central portion of the blank into the diehole 38 for the first cup draw to start formation of the casing. Thedrawing stroke of the punch is controlled to stop short of driving themouth end portion of the side wall 29 into the die orifice 38, thereby.effecting formation of the collar 31.

In each succeeding drawing pass to which the casing 28 is subjected, alonger drawing punch may be utilized, or the strokeof the punch may becontrolled to work and elongate the material of the side wall of thecasing within successii e permissible elongation limits. It will beobserved that the flared entry end 39 of the drawing hole about thedrawing plunger 40 to accommodate the collar 31 at the peripheralmarginal portion of the drawn casing 28.

As'the punch 40 elongates the casing, a kick-out stud or ejector plunger43 engages the underside of the base wall of the casing and is depressedas the drawing The kick-out 43 may be carried by a supporting :member 44resiliently supported by a'set of biasing springs v45, or othermechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic meanswhichyieldin response to thedownward pressure against the kick-out plunger 43 during the drawingoperation.

At the conclusion of the fcontrolled drawing stroke of the punch 40, thelatter is withdrawn from or backed out of the die '35 and'the kick-outplunger 43 follows upwardly to eject the casing 28 with the netractingpunch. By preference, the tip -'of the ejector or kick-up plunger 43 isconformed to the outertside of the bottom wall 30, as indicated at 46.'It will be observed that the clearance afforded by the passage '34below the die limits kickout resistance on the casing wall 29 and thedie is chamfered at 47 at the lower end of the die orifice 38 tofacilitate withdrawal of the casing.

' Since the drawn casing will usually stick on the punch V afterwithdrawal from the die 35, a stripper is provided whichmay comprise agenerally inverted U-shaped member 48 which maybe secured as by means ofscrews 49 to the die base member 33 astride the die member 35.

The stripper'head end ofthe stripper member 48 is disposed at anelevation above the die 35 somewhat greater ture 50 through which thepunch 40 operates. As the than the length of the-casing 38 and has aclearance aper- V upper or mouth portion end 31 of the casing 28 strikesagainst the stripper and comes to a stop, while the punch 40 iswithdrawn therefrom.- The casing 28 thendrops down and is removed fromthe die mechanism.

It will be appreciated that'for small volume production,

one of the die mechanisms 32 may be utilized for all of the plurality ofdraws, with 'proper control of the stroke of the punch 40 to accommodate:the successive lengths to which the casing is drawn in each progressivedrawing pass. However, for large scale production it .will be moreexpedient to have a 'separate .one-ofthe-die;mechanisms 32 for eachdraw. j a

At the conclusion of the drawing of the casing 28, .the collar 31 isswaged radiallyinw'ardlyandpreferably uniformly to the general internaldiameter of the casing which, as shown in Figure 5, is cylindri-cal.This still leaves a substantial thickness of material projectinguniformlyradially about the mouthpbrtionof the Casin'g, an annularflange ofsubstantial ma-ss. then be machined as desired, forexample, bysquaring ofi a shoulder 52 (Fig. '6') on the lowerend'of thecollar' 31and by machining-a rabbetgroove53 in "the inner side of the collar; 1The bottom wall 3'0 of are easing may be headed by coining to provide aflat' base surface"54'(Fig. '6) and an internal primer boss 55, as wellas a laterally projecting flange 57. Whatever machining necessary tosquare "the flange 57 and other portionsof the coined {base may beresorted to. r 7

It will thus be seen that the casing 28 comprises, all in one integralpiece, a tubular wall structure, a base 'having a lateral flange, and amouth end portion having a substantial lateral flange 31 opposite thebase lateral flange 57. I

The casing shown in Figures '8 to 11, inclusive, is made bysubstantially the same method as "the casing 28. Initially, as shown inFigure 8, a. metal blank '58 is coined to provide central "depressedembossment 59. having an annular depending marginal flange -0r rib 60.Then, as shown in Figure 9, the coined blank is 'cupped, whereby themarginal portion ofthe blank is drawn to provide 'a tubularside wall 61,while the genenally concave eonvex bottom embossment now provides a"bottom or base wall 7 pending annular rib flange '60 are headed asby'coining' and the flange 'elongatmi and'mac'hined and provided'withexternal threads 65. j V V A further-operation to which the casing "64is subjected comprises taper contracting the upper portion ofthe casingto a substantially smaller tapered shape, as. indicated in dash outlinein Figure 11. After =this contra cting operation, which alsoincludes-contraction of the collar flange 63, the internal collar flangemay benrachined and, where desirable, tapped or otherwise processed; I

The casing 64 is adapted to "be assembled with another casing 68, asshownin Figure 1-2. V I

The various steps in the making of the casing 68 are shown in Figures 13through '16 and are preferably carried out in substantially the samemanner asjin making the casings 28 and 64. Initially, a metal bank 69isfcoined to provideya central depression land with spaced bosses 71 onthe inner side of the depressed-cup and corresponding but offset bosses72 on the underside of the cup. The coined blan'k is. then :placed inafdrawing press mechanism and the casing started by cupping the same asshown in Figure :14, to provide a tubular wall 73 'and a closed or headwall 74 having the bosses 7'1-an'd 72 thereon. At

aflording The collar 31 can its upper margin, the casing cup 68 has agenerally radially outwardly projecting annular collar 75 formed byshortening the drawing in a manner controlled similarly as in making thecasings 28 and 64. A second draw elongates the tubular casing wall 73 tothe desired extent.

Following the last draw of the casing 68, the bottom wall 74 is headedto flatten the same as shown in Figure 15. Furthermore, the radiallyoutwardly extending collar 75 is swaged radially inwardly as shown inFigure 16 to provide an internal annular flange of substantial mass.This flange is internally tapped or threaded as indicated at 76.

During the heading of the base wall 74, or as a separate operation, thelower end portion of the casing 68 is radially expanded to a slightlylarger diameter than the remainder of the casing to provide a radialshoulder 77. To accommodate this, a thickness in the lower portion ofthe side wall 73 is provided.

As shown in Figures 12 and 17, the base wall bosses '71 and 72 of thecasing 68 are located near the margin of the base wall. Between thebosses 72 and preferably axially in the base wall 74, "a hollowembossment 79 is pressed toward the interior of the casing.

Assembly of the casing 68 with the casing 64 may be accomplished in themanner shown in Figure 12, wherein the depending flange 60 of the casing64 is threaded into the internal threaded collar flange 75 of the casing68. A ring or band 80 is then secured about the joint between the twocasings and is seated in appropriate rabbet grooves 81 and 82 providedcomplementally and conterminously in the outer adjacent margins of thecasing 64 and the casing 68, respectively. Within the rabbet grooves 81and 82 may be provided radially outwardly projecting prongs 83 whichengage in embedded relation in the contiguous inner surface of the band80. For this purpose the band 80 may be made of a fairly soft material,such as copper, so that by pressing, as by contracting the band intoposition within the groves 81 and 83, the prongs 83 will embedthemselves in the material of the band. This affords a sealing andlocking means at the joint between the casings which will resistrelative rotation of the casings 64 and 68.

Instead of screwing the flanges 60 and 75 together, such flanges may besimply pressed fitted together, as shown in Figure 18, wherein primedreference numerals indicate similar parts as in Figure 12. In the formof Figure 18, the band 80 serves as an anti-turning and sealing meansand also for holding the casings against separation axially.

It may be observed in Figure 12 that the lower end radial shoulder 77 ispreferably of about the same diameter as the outside diameter of theband 80 so as to cooperate therewith as guiding means to keep the shellassembly centered in a barrel or tube from which the shell assembly maybe fired in use.

The several casings described herein may be made from a suitablematerial such as steel of any appropriate grade or composition for thepurpose intended. On the other hand, the casings or any of them may bemade from brass or other metal or alloy.

Where steel is used, spheroidizing may be resorted to, if necessary, butunder appropriate circumstances the formation of the casings by coiningand subsequent drawing may be accomplished without the spheroidizingtreatment.

Each of the several metallic casings described may be drawn in mechanismlike the mechanism 32 of Figure 7.

Between the various working steps on the several casings, suitable heattreatment will be employed as desirable, such as annealing, normalizing,and ultimate hardening. The treatment may include the process of myPatent No. 2,059,468, issued November 3, 1936.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of drawing metallic cartridge and shell casings, comprisinginitially cupping a metal blank from an at least marginally flatcondition into an elongated tubular walled shell to a point short of themarginal extremity of the blank but turning said marginal extremity intoa flaring mouthed undrawn collar, then drawing the tubular wall of thecupped blank to elongate the casing while maintaining said undrawnmarginal collar in the substantially original thickness of the same asturned into said flaring mouthed condition, and thereafter substantially straightening said flaring mouthed. collar longitudinally ofsaid elongated tubular wall.

2. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said straightenedmouth collar is reshaped to provide a stepped mouth flange ofsubstantially larger diameter than the outside diameter of saidelongated tubular Wall.

3. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said straightenedmouth collar is substantially contracted to a substantially smallerdiameter than said tubular Wall.

4. In a method of making a metallic casing, drawing a thick sheet metalblank having at least a flat marginal portion into a tubular cup shapedshell closed at one end and open at the other end with a collar ofsubstantially greater diameter than the tubular wall, substantiallyelongating said tubular wall and reducing the thickness thereof whilemaintaining said collar of substantially undiminished thickness but withan inside diameter no less than the inside diameter of the elongatedwall, heading the closed end portion while said collar is in said insidediameter relationship to the wall, incident to said heading expandingthe material of the casing contiguous the closed end to a substantiallygreater outside diameter than the outside diameter of the tubular Wall,and thereafter reshaping said collar to a smaller diameter than theinside diameter of the elongated wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS119,900 Van Cleve Oct. 10, 1871 153,358 Mason et a1. July 21, 1874639,532 Courtman Dec. 19, 1899 1,190,576 Page July 11, 1916 1,278,914Gruver Sept. 17, 1918 1,310,129 Murray July 15, 1919 1,329,134 MurrayIan. 27, 1920 1,412,794 Penfield Apr. 11, 1922 1,617,491 Mallory Feb.15, 1927 1,948,437 Bowers Feb. 20, 1934 2,028,996 Sautier Jan. 28, 19362,059,468 Lyon Nov. 3, 1936 2,079,102 Biginelli May 4, 1937 2,150,708Andrews et a1 Mar. 14, 1939 2,237,993 Korbuly Apr. 8, 1941 2,304,582Lyon Dec. 8, 1942 2,350,491 Butler et al. June 6, 1944 2,360,354 LyonOct. 17, 1944 2,418,874 Gary Apr. 15, 1947 2,668,345 Eckstein Feb. 9,1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 874,975 France Sept. 2, 1942 OTHER REFERENCESAmerican Machinist, July 22, 1943, page 115.

